Bill Belichick takes an uncharacteristic jab at the Jets

Bill Belichick is not much of a trash talker. Players and coaches around the NFL love to take shots at the New England Patriots, but Belichick rarely ever responds and demands that his players hold their tongues as well. On Wednesday morning, the five-time Super Bowl champion threw the first punch.

While speaking to reporters about his team’s next opponent, Belichick was asked if he still feels a connection to the Cleveland Browns organization, where he spent five seasons as a head coach from 1991-1995. He voluntarily gave everyone a quote worth printing, which is a very rare occurrence.

“I was there for five years,” Belichick said, via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “It was five important years in my life, for myself, my family and all that. Obviously, we’ve all moved on, and I have a job to do here and that’s where my loyalty is, is to Robert (Kraft), the Patriots organization and this football team. So it’s no different than how I feel, honestly, about the Colts, or the Lions or the Broncos. I feel differently about the Jets. We won’t put them in that category.”

For what it’s worth, the Jets’ hatred for Belichick runs much deeper than his hatred for them. The 61-year-old was set to become the next head coach of the Jets in 2000 before changing his mind at the last second and heading to New England. I’d be shocked if Rex Ryan resists the opportunity to respond to Belichick later this week.